Monica Johnson, HEROES Founder and CEO
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A letter from monicaIn the 1990s, I was a single Black mother living with HIV. The support groups in the rural South were a 45 minute drive from where I lived, either didn’t welcome children at meetings, kept women shut out or didn’t address any of the concerns or issues. At the same time, Black heterosexual women were being infected with HIV at an alarming rate.
It was clear that if I wanted a support group for people like me, I was going to have to make one myself. So I did. I started HEROES out of my house 29 years ago. Since that time, HEROES has grown to include educational programs, after-school programs, a voter registration project, and so much more. We are proof that the word “no” can lead to something bigger and better than you ever imagined. AIDS is a social issue compounded by a lack of healthcare, poor sexual education, and unsafe places to live. My life’s work is to prevent transmission and to help those living with HIV/AIDS to live the full, happy lives they deserve. |